Method and apparatus for joining a floor system to a support structure

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for connecting a floor system ( 30 ) to a support structure ( 33 ) in a building or other structure. A formed section ( 41 ) is positioned on the top of the structural stud members ( 34 ) of the support structure ( 33 ) and has two vertical sides ( 42, 43 ) which open upwardly. Tie members ( 45 ) maintain the formed section ( 41 ) in its configuration while concrete is being poured into the section ( 41 ). The floor system ( 30 ) is supported upon the formed section ( 41 ) with concrete ( 35 ) added thereto.

[0001] This invention relates to supporting a floor system and, more particularly to supporting a floor system by a support structure utilising a metal formed section with concrete added to the section.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In the construction of building and other structures, the loading of the floor system must be carried by a support structure. The floor systems are horizontal and the support structure is generally vertical. The weight of the floor system is transferred to the support structure and, eventually, to the ground. In commercial construction with a plurality of floors being constructed, there is considerable replication of the connection between the floor systems and the support structure. Any labor or cost savings made at the loading points can be considerable.

[0003] At the wall and end wall sections where the floor systems are supported, a plurality of vertical steel studs have been provided to provide support for the floor systems. However, the intervals at which the floor systems concentrate the loads on the steel studs is often different from the spacing of the vertical steel studs. Thus, there may be a floor load concentration which is too heavy to be transferred from the track joining the studs to the studs themselves. It may be the case, therefore, that the floor load must be supported at a location directly above a particular vertical stud member. However, this configuration is difficult to achieve in practise and is therefor inconvenient. It requires additional planning and time to position the floor systems which is inefficient and costly.

[0004] In a further attempt to overcome the aforementioned problem, is preformed steel members are positioned between the point of loading of the floor sections and the stud members. While the rigidity and strength of the preformed steel members will adequately transfer the loading of the floor sections to the vertical stud members, the preformed members themselves are expensive since they must be heavy in order to carry and transfer the floor loading. The preformed steel members must also be appropriately located and formed to fit the location where they are installed. This requires technically competent manpower to fit and position the preformed steel members which may not always be at hand and which, in any event, may be expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a formed section to carry concrete, said section being operable to be located between a floor section and a load carrying structure, said section comprising a concrete carrying portion defined by at least one substantially vertical wall element, said metal section and said concrete carrying portion being operable to transfer said loading of said floor section to said load carrying structure.

[0006] According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of transferring the load of a floor system to a floor support structure comprising positioning a formed section operable to hold concrete in a location associated with said floor support structure, pouring concrete into said formed section, allowing said concrete to dry within said formed section and positioning said floor system on said formed section and concrete.

[0007] According to yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of transferring the load of a floor system to a floor support structure comprising positioning a formed section operable to hold concrete in a location associated with said floor support structure and pouring concrete into both said formed section and said floor system while said floor section is operably associated with said formed section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a prior art technique wherein the joist members of the floor system rest directly upon a steel transfer member placed on the track of the end wall which transfer member transfers the loads of the joists to the vertical structural studs in the wall support structure;

[0010]FIG. 2A is a diagrammatic partial isometric view of a floor system supported by joist members which are supported by the formed section according to the invention in a first embodiment;

[0011]FIG. 2B is a diagrammatic side sectional view of the floor system of FIG. 2A being supported by an end wall;

[0012]FIG. 3A is a diagrammatic partial isometric view similar to FIG. 2A but illustrating a floor system without joists resting directly upon the flanges of the formed section and illustrating the concrete poured into both the floor system and the formed section;

[0013]FIG. 3B is a diagrammatic side sectional view of the floor system of FIG. 3A;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of a floor system supported by a wall and including a concrete filled formed section according to the invention where joist members are the is primary load carrying members for the floor system; and

[0015]FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side sectional view of a floor system being supported by a wall similar to FIG. 4 and including a concrete filled formed section but wherein the floor system has no joists and is supported directly by the formed section.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

[0016] With reference to FIG. 1, a floor support system as typically used in prior art systems is generally illustrated at 10. It comprises a floor system generally illustrated at 11 which includes joists 12 and a floor 13, which floor 13 is supported by the joists 12. The joists 12 are positioned on a preformed steel member 14 which, in turn, is supported by a track 20 which joins the structural stud members 21 which form the supporting wall generally illustrated at 24. In this configuration, the loading of the floor 13 and concrete 22 is passed directly to the preformed member 14 and thence to the structural stud members 21 of the supporting wall 24.

[0017] A first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The floor system generally illustrated at 30 includes joists 31 and floor 32. The supporting wall structure generally illustrated at 33 includes the structural stud members 34 and a track 40 which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction of the joists 31 and joins the structural stud members 34 in the supporting wall 33.

[0018] The formed section according to the invention is illustrated generally at 41 and is illustrated in a cutaway sectional view in FIG. 2B. The formed section 41, conveniently of metal material, such as steel, takes a upwardly open configuration in order to retain concrete which is poured into the section 41. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, the formed section 41 comprises two vertical side members 42, 43 and a flange 44 extending generally horizontally and outwardly from vertical side 42. Ties 45 are conveniently provided between the side member 43 and the joist 31 and between the bottom 47 of formed section 41 and joist 31 (FIG. 2B) so as to maintain the configuration prior to concrete being poured into the floor system 30 and the formed section 41. Closure members 46 extend between the joists 31 and act to constrain the concrete being poured into the formed section 41 and floor system 30. Reinforcing rods 51, 52 are positioned within the cavity to reinforce the concrete used for the floor system 30. Reinforcing rods 53 are positioned within the formed section 41 to strengthen the concrete held by the formed section 41.

[0019] The joists 31 of the floor system 30 rest on flange 44 of formed section 41 and concrete 50 is added to the floor system 30 and the formed section 41 in a single operation or as separate operations where the concrete initially added to the formed section 41 is allowed to dry before positioning the floor system 30 on the flange 44, all as will be discussed in greater detail.

[0020] A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. In this embodiment, the floor system 60 does not use joists. Instead, the floor 63 is positioned directly on the flange 44 of the formed section 41. This might be the case, for example, where there are numerous supporting walls beneath the floor section 60 such as is the case with hotel construction and the like so that the load is dissipated to the supporting walls rather than having the need to be carried entirely by joists. In this embodiment, where the loading on the supporting wall 33 is generally somewhat less than the loading in the embodiment of FIGS. 2A and 2B, only one tie member 61 may be required and this tie member 61 is connected between the flange 44 of the formed section 41 and the side 43 of the formed section 41.

[0021]FIG. 4 illustrates still yet a further embodiment of the invention when a supporting wall generally illustrated at 75 is used to support the floor system 30, which floor system 30 is similar to that of the FIG. 2A and 2B embodiment. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the formed section generally illustrated at 70 has two side walls 71, 72, each of the side walls 71, 72 being of identical length and each having an outwardly extending flange 73, 74, respectively. A tie member 76 extends between the flanges 73, 74 to maintain the configuration of the formed section 70 prior to the concrete 81 being poured.

[0022] In this embodiment the joists 31 of the floor system 30 are positioned directly upon the flanges 73, 74 as illustrated. Likewise, reinforcing bars 52, 80 may be added to the floor system 30 and reinforcing bars 53 are added to the formed section 70. Closure members 46 are added to the space between joists 31 to constrain the concrete 81 when poured. The concrete 82 in the formed section 72 may be poured in one pour with the concrete 81 in the floor system 30 or it may be poured in a separate operation after the concrete in the formed section 70 has cured, all as will be described.

[0023]FIG. 5 illustrates a floor section 60 of the type similar to FIGS. 3A and 3B. The floor section 60 has no joists and is mounted directly upon the flanges 91, 92 of the formed section generally illustrated at 90. The side members 93, 94 of formed section 90 are somewhat longer than the length of the side members 71, 72 of the FIG. 4 embodiment but, otherwise, the formed sections are similar with the floor 62 being mounted directly upon the flanges 91, 92 of the formed section 90 and the concrete 93 being poured in a single pour into both the formed section 90 and the floor system 60 or, alternatively, first into the formed section 90 and, after that concrete has cured, into the floor system 60.

Operation

[0024] In operation and with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the supporting wall 33 with its vertical stud members 34 will have conveniently have a track 35 joining the stud members 34. The formed section 41 will be cut to appropriate length and placed on top of track 35. Bolts 62 (FIG. 2B) or the like may be used to maintain the formed section 41 in position on the track 40.

[0025] The steel formed section 41 is maintained in its configuration with the use of ties 45 and the joists 31 of the floor system 50 are positioned directly upon the flange 44 of vertical side 42 of formed section 41. Reinforcing bars 51, 52, 53 are added as necessary and closure members 46 are placed between the joists 31 to form the boundary for the concrete 35 which is poured into both the floor system 30 and the formed section 41 in a single pour. The side member 43 extends to the top surface 36 of the concrete 35 after it is poured.

[0026] The method of concrete pouring is similar with the embodiments of FIGS. 3A and 3B, 4 and 5.

[0027] There are a variety of techniques in respect of which the concrete may be poured depending upon the particular application desired by the user. If the floor system 30 is very heavy, it may be desirable to pour concrete initially into the formed section 41 and allow it to cure. Following the setting of the concrete in the formed section 41, the joists 31 of the floor system 30 could then be positioned on the flanges of the formed section 41 and concrete could then be added to the floor system 30. Such a technique would strengthen the load bearing capacity of the formed section 41 and would preserve the configuration of the formed section 41 whereas if concrete was not poured into the formed section 41 until the concrete was added to the floor system 30, the vertical sides 42, 43 might bow and the load carrying capacity of the formed section 41 could subsequently be affected.

[0028] A further embodiment would provide the formed section 41 (FIG. 2A) with concrete prior to positioning the formed section 41 on the track 35 of the supporting wall 33. The formed section 41 could be strengthened with concrete at a location convenient for the concrete to be added and, thereafter, the formed section 41 and the concrete which has set in the formed section 41 could be raised or moved to its position on the top of the supporting wall 33. Thereafter, the floor system 30 would be appropriately positioned on the formed section as discussed and the concrete for the floor system 30 could be poured.

[0029] From the description given, it will be appreciated that the joists 31 of the floor system 30 (FIGS. 2A and 2B) or the floor 63 of the floor system 60 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) may be positioned on the metal formed sections 41 as is convenient to the user and that the position of the floor systems 30, 60 is not dictated by the position of the structural stud member 21. Likewise, it is apparent the previous preformed and expensive steel member 41 (FIG. 1) may be eliminated.

[0030] While specific embodiments of the invention have been described, such descriptions should be taken as illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting its scope as defined in accordance with the accompanying claims. 

I claim:
 1. A formed section to carry concrete, said section being operable to be located between a floor section and a load carrying structure, said section comprising a concrete carrying portion defined by at least one substantially vertical wall element, said metal section and said concrete carrying portion being operable to transfer said loading of said floor section to said load carrying structure.
 2. Joining apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said formed section is metal and wherein said support structure comprises a plurality of structural studs.
 3. Joining apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said wall members of said first formed section are substantially vertical, at least one of said wall members terminating in a horizontally oriented flange.
 4. Joining apparatus as in claim 3 and further comprising concrete within said formed section.
 5. Joining apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said floor system comprises a plurality of joists, at least one of said joists being operatively connected to said horizontally oriented flange of said formed section.
 6. Joining apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said wall members of said formed section are substantially equal in length and further comprising a second flange member on said second wall member, said metal decking of said floor system being operatively connected to said second flange member.
 7. Joining apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said floor system comprises joist members, said joining apparatus further comprising closure members extending between said joist members, said closure members being operative to constrain said concrete poured into said formed section.
 8. Joining apparatus as in claim 2 and further including tie members to maintain said formed section in a predetermined configuration.
 9. Method of joining a floor system to a support structure comprising the steps of positioning a formed section adapted to hold concrete on the top of said support structure, maintaining said formed section in a first configuration and pouring concrete into said metal formed section in said first configuration.
 10. Method as in claim 9 and further comprising positioning a floor system on said formed section and said concrete and operatively connecting said floor system to said metal formed section and said concrete.
 11. Method as in claim 10 and further comprising adding concrete to said floor system.
 12. Method as in claim 9 wherein said floor system is positioned on said at least one flange of said formed section, and adding concrete to said floor system, said concrete being added to said floor system during an operation separate from adding said concrete to said metal formed section.
 13. Method as in claim 9 wherein said floor system is positioned on said at least one flange of said metal formed section, and adding concrete to said floor system, said concrete being added to said floor system during the same operation as adding said concrete to said formed section.
 14. Method as in claim 9 and further comprising adding reinforcement members to said formed section prior to pouring said concrete into said formed section.
 15. Method as in claim 11 and further comprising adding reinforcement members to said floor system prior to pouring said concrete into said floor system.
 16. Method as in claim 10 and further comprising adding closure members to said floor system to constrain said concrete poured into said floor system.
 17. A method of transferring the load of a floor system to a floor support structure comprising positioning a formed section operable to hold concrete in a location associated with said floor support structure and pouring concrete into both said formed section and said floor system while said floor system is operably associated with said formed section. 